Best Poke Spots in Honolulu
Poke at its origin - these are some Honolulu poke spots that you can’t go wrong with.
Poke became one of the most well known foods coming out of Hawaii.
While most of the poke seen around the world isn’t actually authentic poke (other locals would surely agree with me), it’s cool to see something local become such an international phenomenon.
If you’re like me and ideally want to try dishes where they originated from, chances are that poke will be on your “to eat” list. If it isn’t, it absolutely should be.
This is by no means a definitive list, and there are many other places that make fantastic poke that maybe I’ve yet to try or need to try again, but here are some of my favorites that you can’t go wrong with.
Off the Hook Poke Market
This is one of the more recent poke places, opening in late 2018, but it’s one of, if not the best I’ve had.
They have some really good poke flavors, so I recommend getting a 2-choice bowl. My favorites are their ginger ahi, Kilauea Fire and spicy tuna, but you can’t go wrong with any of their options. Get all of the free toppings as well.
Service is great, really friendly and personable. This is a great addition to the Manoa area.
Ono Seafood
If you ask me where’s consistently been the poke spot that I recommend and go to, it’s probably Ono Seafood.
It's a really small, unassuming hole-in-the-wall place in the Kapahulu area, that in recent years has become pretty well known and extremely popular. All of their poke are good, and I usually alternate between their shoyu ahi, kim chee tako, spicy tuna or Hawaiian ahi poke.
Service is good and a soft drink is included as well.
Fresh Catch
If you’re looking for a poke spot that you can sit down and eat at, Fresh Catch is the best bet. They make a variety of plate lunches as well, but when I tried their poke, it immediately became one of my favorites.
Their shoyu ahi poke is very saucy and perhaps the most flavorful that I’ve had. Yum!
Foodland
Ask a local where they usually get their poke from and it’s often a market. In Hawaii, most markets make poke whether it’s Whole Foods, Safeway or even Costco.
To me, Foodland makes the best poke and they have a huge range - raw crab poke, clam poke, mussels poke, choices that most other poke spots just don’t have.
Foodland has poke bowls, but most locals pick up a container and take it over to a dinner party, a picnic or potluck. Can’t go wrong picking out a few and having a beer with it.
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East Honolulu, Hawaii
Scenic spots and good eats in East Honolulu, from Kahala to Makapu’u.
Koko Crater and Koko Marina in Hawaii Kai
East Honolulu is the area between Kahala and Makapu’u on the south shore of Oahu
It’s a desirable residential area that includes Kahala, Waialae Iki, Aina Haina, Hawaii Loa Ridge, Niu Valley and Hawaii Kai
Hanauma Bay, Sandy Beach, and Makapu’u Lighthouse are a few popular places here
I grew up here in East Honolulu, Hawaii Kai to be exact, so it’s the part of Hawaii that most feels like home to me.
It’s a relatively low key, residential area of the island connected by a single road, Kalanianaole highway, that runs along the coastline after the H-1 freeway ends. There are few high rises on this part of the island as most families live in houses, and it is a lot more Hawaii-esque than central parts of Honolulu.
Here are a few scenic spots that I recommend, from west to east, as well as some food places (at the bottom):
THE KAHALA HOTEL
Known as one of Honolulu’s top hotels, The Kahala is in a pretty great location. It’s a beachfront hotel tucked away in the upscale, quiet Kahala area next to the Waialae Golf Course.
Sometimes I’ll go to the Plumeria Beach House (info at the bottom) for lunch which has an open-air veranda area looking towards the beach, allowing you to really relax in a peaceful setting near the water.
WAILUPE BEACH PARK
Wailupe Beach Park is a very small, local park area alongside Kalanianaole highway. It’s quite easy to miss, but people go to the park to fish, paddle board or have a picnic.
I’ll sometimes quick pitstop to enjoy some takeout. You can also catch a view of the backside of Diamond Head.
MAUNALUA BAY
At the start of Hawaii Kai, there’s a large parking lot area along the highway’s ocean side. This is Maunalua Bay, which is mainly a boat ramp and paddling area.
I love this part of Hawaii Kai as it’s convenient for watching the sunset. It gives you a panoramic view and there’s always ample parking, which is a big plus.
KOKO MARINA
Koko Marina is at the center of my hometown in Hawaii Kai, and it has some of the nicest, turquoise blue waters in Hawaii.
You can get up close from any of the three shopping centers located along it; the Hawaii Kai Towne Center, Hawaii Kai Shopping Center and Koko Marina Center.
The photo at the top of this blog was taken from Hawaii Kai Towne Center and this one just above was from Koko Marina Center.
HANAUMA BAY
Hanauma Bay is one of the more popular tourist destinations on the island since, well, it’s gorgeous and because you’re able to snorkel with a lot of fish in pretty calm, shallow waters.
Along the crater ridge is a mostly paved trail that’ll give you a nice view of Hanauma Bay from above as well as Hawaii Kai looking towards Diamond Head.
Parking is really limited though, and they close entirely on Tuesdays due to it actually being a nature preserve, so definitely double check.
BLOWHOLE & HALONA (COCKROACH) COVE
If you keep heading up Kalanianaole highway past Hanauma Bay, you will hit Halona Blowhole and Cockroach Cove on the right.
The coastline in this area is pretty different from most of the island as the road becomes windy and you actually have to drive along the edge of a pretty high lava rock cliff.
Halona Cove aka “Cockroach Cove” is a small beach area below the Blowhole parking lot. You just have to climb down the rocky hill.
From this area looking east, you can also see Sandy Beach, which is a popular and notoriously dangerous bodyboarding spot. Even the Secret Service didn’t like President Obama going there. For that reason, I’ll skip over it although there is a nice tide pool area just after it.
MAKAPU’U
The Makapu’u area is the eastern tip of Oahu. There’s a popular hike there, the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail, which is an easy, paved incline that’s less than 3 miles roundtrip. On the way up, you can see Sandy Beach and the back of Koko Crater, and a view of Waimanalo at the top.
There’s also a lookout you can park and walk to in case you’re not in the mood to hike up [MAP]. No shame in that!
Also in the area is Alan Davis beach [MAP] to cool off after.
FOOD
Now for the food. Most of the food around East Honolulu is at area shopping centers. If you’re looking for something on this side of town, here are some decent choices.
LA TOUR CAFE
Delicious sandwiches, flatbread pizzas and salads for lunch.
La Tour Cafe is in the Aina Haina Shopping Center and is a good if you want to catch up with friends, have a business meeting and work, or just want to get a good bite to eat.
Everything I’ve had there is delicious, but I’m particularly a fan of their Chili-lime chicken flatbread pizza.
UNCLE CLAY’S HOUSE OF PURE ALOHA
Shave ice and local desserts, Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha basically lives up to its name of providing pure ‘aloha.’
Formerly Doe Fang, a neighborhood crackseed store in Aina Haina Shopping Center, it has grown in popularity not just because it has tasty shave ice in local Hawaii flavors, but also because of their effort to create a family in the community.
PLUMERIA BEACH HOUSE
One of my favorite places to go for brunch or lunch in Honolulu. It’s a gorgeous, near beach, open-air location at one of the best hotels on the island.
Plumeria Beach House is one of the restaurants at The Kahala Hotel and has won a range of local awards. They have buffets as well.
Perfect spot to enjoy a nice, yet casual meal surrounded by Hawaii’s lush environment.
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Vintage Cave Club: An Outstanding Dining Experience
A French-Japonais dining experience at one of Hawaii’s most exclusive restaurants.
A culinary experience that was unlike any other I’ve had.
I was fortunate enough to eat at Vintage Cave Club with my family, an exclusive, high-end restaurant featuring cuisine prepared by elite chefs that is regarded as one of the best in Hawaii. Their slogan says it all: Hideaway Guest House For Oenophiles & Connoisseurs.
Opened in 2012 by Japanese real estate billionaire Takeshi Sekiguchi, club members who would pay an annual fee in the thousands would go there to dine. It’s since been opened to the public (there are still club members), and has been dined at by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, amongst other notable figures and celebrities.
The first points worth noting are its location and exterior, as pictured up top. It’s located in the darkest, least visited parking lot area of Ala Moana Shopping Center. Inconspicuously tucked between the pillars and parking stalls is its dimly lit red brick facade with a single black, metal door.
This is where the experience begins.
The Vintage Cave Club experience
Ringing the buzzer, the host answers on the intercom before opening the door to greet you. Walking through the cellar-like foyer, a vibe that is consistent throughout, you get on an elevator that leads to the restaurant.
Main dining area of Vintage Cave Club, with art by Ardon Mordecai and Pablo Picasso decorating the walls
The restaurant space is dimly lit and spacious, decorated with art like "Les Deux Femmes Nues" by Pablo Picasso, a Baccarat crystalware collection and a lot more.
Besides the central dining space, there are a couple of small, semi-private nooks - one of which where we ate in, private dining rooms and a sushi counter. There's also a wine cellar stocked with the most exclusive wines, a locker room for club members to store their expensive bottles, and a bar with a selection that includes a 50 year old Macallan - $6,000 for a small pour.
Dining nook where the Obamas dined
Bar room
Private lockers for club members
Our menu was the French Japonais Prix Fixe, a 10-12 course menu featuring Takanokuni Wagyu. While we got a deal, the course is priced at $300 per person, with tax, service charge and tip separate.
Each dish was brought to us one by one, and the service was impressive throughout the evening. A few servers would come out together and in synchronized fashion, place the dish in front of each of us at the same time. Our lead server was very professional, not at all stiff, and personable in the perfect amount.
French Japonais Prix Fixe
Here's everything that was served. One thing worthy of noting is that while the food itself was nicely arranged, the dishes they each were served on were art pieces in their own right, making the presentation that much more amazing.
Abalone with abalone liver and yuzu ponzu jelly
A5 Takanokuni Wagyu with miso pickled cream cheese and wasabi
Siberian caviar on ahi (tuna) tartare, basil powder and toast w/ 24k gold leaf
Uni chawanmushi (Japanese steamed custard-like flan)
Sashimi (3 types) over seaweed salad, amaebi (sweet shrimp) jelly and wasabi foam with a mini garden salad and miso sesame paste
Consommé soup with A5 Takanokuni Wagyu and prosciutto, shiitake mushroom, daikon (Japanese radish) and Tokyo negi (green onion) foam
Served with the soup: Miso bread, sesame charcoal bread, ricotta cheese in olive oil, red wine salt
Onaga (long-tail red snapper) in white wine sauce, tomato (?), ikura, saffron tuile
Yuzu sorbet
Hitsumabushi unagi and A5 Takanokuni Wagyu on crispy risotto in red wine sauce
Ribeye and Filet A5 Takanokuni Wagyu in miso vinegar sauce, with black truffle in sherry sauce
(Not included in the Prix Fixe) 29 year old aged peaberry Kona coffee - Smooth tasting, reminiscent of Kopi Luwak
Served with the coffee: Sugar jelly
Corn chowder and corn gelato with crystallized soy powder
The meal was just about perfect in every way, and everyone finished just the right amount of full. Would I have taken more if it were an all-you-can-eat buffet? Sure. But it wasn't that kind of dinner. Everyone finished satisfied.
After the meal, our server offered to take us around on a tour of the restaurant, explaining its history, approach, wine and art collection. She guided us back in the elevator and walked us out, concluding our experience at the Vintage Cave Club.
A dinner with my family that I won't forget.
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Poke at its origin - these are some Honolulu poke spots that you can’t go wrong with.